Now it’s all about the music

Jerry Fink, Las Vegas Sun

Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2007 | 7:10 a.m.

Who: Wayman Tisdale When: 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday

Where: Boulder Station Tickets: $25.75-$47.75; 432-7777

"Power Forward" (1995), "In the Zone" (1996), "Decisions" (1998), "Face to Face" (2001), "Presents 21 Days" (2003), "Hang Time" (2004), "Way Up!" (2006)

Wayman Tisdale used to make baskets, now he makes music.

Bass guitarist Tisdale will be leading his jazz group Friday and Saturday at Boulder Station.

Tisdale started recording when he was playing in the NBA and released his first CD in 1995, two years before retiring from basketball. His debut, "Power Forward," went to No. 4 on Billboard's contemporary jazz charts. His subsequent albums all made it onto Billboard's jazz charts. "Face to Face," released in 2001, and last year's "Way Up!" both reached the top of the chart.

Tisdale, the son of a preacher, was born in Fort Worth, Texas, and raised in Tulsa, Okla. He played for the University of Oklahoma from 1983 to 1985 and was named to the John Wooden Award All-American Team all three years. He played on the U.S. Olympic team, which won a gold medal, in 1984.

In 1986 the Indiana Pacers chose him as the No. 2 pick in the draft, behind Patrick Ewing. He also played for the Sacramento Kings and Phoenix Suns. He scored more than 12,800 points and pulled down more than 5,000 rebounds during a 12-year career.

Tisdale, 42, recently talked to the Sun by phone from his home in Los Angeles.

Q: You've been out of basketball 10 years. Do you still follow it?

I follow it, but not to the point where I'm watching every game. I watch more football than basketball.

Which is more gratifying to you, the numbers you put up on the scoreboard or the numbers you're putting up on the Billboard chart?

Definitely the music side, probably because so many people didn't believe that I could make the transition, do one thing and then do another to this level. Defi- nitely, it's the music side.

How has your music grown since you started performing?

I've grown musically tonewise. Over the years I think the biggest change is the playing, that's natural, but definitely the tone. After a couple of nights you can definitely tell who's playing bass.

Who most influenced your music?

There were two. Marcus Miller and Stanley Clarke influenced me from late '70s, '80s sound. I took that and made it into my own and put a bit more of a melodic twist to it. I changed my string setup on my bass so it would be a lighter-gauge string so I wouldn't get in anybody's way.

Have you always been interested in jazz?

Oh, yeah. I loved jazz when I was in college, going through high school even. My older brother got me into it. I really got off into it. I would listen to all kinds of jazz. But I was influenced by a lot of early R&B bands as well. I listened to it all growing up. My father was a minister so I listened to gospel, R&B, country. "Hee Haw" was my favorite show growing up because I used to be so amazed at the guitar playing.

How did it feel to be inducted into the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame after receiving so many honors in basketball?

It was a big thrill. Anything musically that shows you're making waves, it's great. And it's a whole other thing than basketball. This is my 12th year being signed in the music business, which is matching my NBA years.

Do you miss basketball?

Nah. It was time for me to go, to get out. I feel very fortunate that I had something else to look forward to, another challenge and new horizons to conquer. I had my time in basketball. I loved it. I lived it to the fullest. I got every inch out of me in basketball that I wanted to get, maybe not what other people wanted me to get. I got what I wanted and moved on.

The NBA All-Star game is going to be in town the same weekend you're here. Are you going to the game?

I thought about going to the game - and I will be going to a lot of the festivities - but I think I'll be gone by Sunday when the game's played.

Do you perform a lot in Vegas?

Yeah. It's a great audience there. I usually sell the place out. Usually play at the Station, Boulder or Texas.

Do you prefer performing in small clubs or large stadiums?

I like the smaller clubs, the tighter clubs. It's more personal. I think the Stations hold about 500 to 800 people. I love playing there. I really enjoy it.

Are you working on another album?

This one just came out in June. I probably won't start working on another record until sometime around the end of the year.

Do you write most of your own music?

Pretty much, 80 to 90 percent of it. I collaborate with a lot of great writers as well.

Is your entire focus now family and music?

Oh, yeah. It's something I wanted to do all along. It's not a novelty thing. It's definitely a career. Some people say it's a novelty act, but you've just got to check it out.

What's your show like?

You're going to get a show, not just a bunch of music; a bunch of musicians just standing around making music. It's a good time, and it's a party.